Like Toy Soldiers

"Like Toy Soldiers" is a song by American rapper Eminem from the album Encore. It tells the story of his attempts to calm a violent community of rappers. He speaks openly about problems with The Source magazine and its editor Benzino, as well as Murder Inc. Records, and explains the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent, which Eminem felt went way beyond the Jay-Z vs. Nas feud. The song finishes as Eminem offers a truce to his enemies. Like Toy Soldiers features prominent sped-up sampling from "Toy Soldiers" by Martika. The song's video, released in 2004, which depicts Eminem's fellow D12 member Proof being gunned down in a drive-by shooting, took a sudden and tragic turn in the early hours of April 11, 2006, when Proof was actually shot and killed at the CCC nightclub on Detroit's 8 Mile Road. Cameo appearances in the video include 50 Cent, Obie Trice and D12. Deceased rappers Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Big L and former D12 member Bugz are also shown at the end of the music video to show the fatal consequences of rap wars. Eminem leaves out a word in this song when referring to Dr. Dre's own feuds. This word is believed to be "Suge", a reference to Suge Knight with whom Dr. Dre had problems in the mid 90's. "Like Toy Soldiers" was included on Eminem's compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits in 2005. In addition, this song also brings up some issues with his ongoing feud with Ja Rule who made some remarks about Hailie, Marshall's daughter, on a song called "Loose Change". Ja Rule called Eminem's wife 'a known slut' and his mother a crackhead in the song and wondered what Eminem's 12 year old daughter Hailie was going to be "when she grows up".

[Intro] Step by step, heart to heart Left, right, left, we all fall down... [Chorus] Step by step, heart to heart Left, right, left, we all fall down Like toy soldiers Bit by bit, torn apart We never win, but the battle wages on For toy soldiers [Verse 1] I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders I ain't never supposed to show it My crew ain't supposed to know it Even if it means goin' toe-to-toe with a Benzino It don't matter, I never drag 'em in battles that I can't handle 'Less I absolutely have to, I'm supposed to set an example I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em If some shit ever does pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em That Ja shit, I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it There's a certain line you just don't cross, and he crossed it I heard him say Hailie's name on a song and I just lost it It was crazy, the shit went way beyond some JAY-Z and Nas shit And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it I spent so much energy on it, honestly I'm exhausted And I'm so caught in it, I almost feel I'm the one who caused it This ain't what I'm in hip-hop for, it's not why I got in it That was never my object, for someone to get killed Why would I wanna destroy somethin' I helped build? It wasn't my intentions, my intentions were good I went through my whole career without ever mentionin' **** And that was just outta respect, for not runnin' my mouth And talkin' about somethin' that I knew nothin' about Plus Dre told me stay out, this just wasn't my beef So I did, I just fell back, watched and gritted my teeth While he's all over TV, down-talkin' the man Who literally saved my life, like fuck it, I understand This is business, and this shit just isn't none of my business But still knowin' the shit could pop off at any minute, 'cause— [Chorus] Step by step, heart to heart Left, right, left, we all fall down Like toy soldiers Bit by bit, torn apart We never win, but the battle wages on For toy soldiers [Verse 2] There used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme and Wouldn't have to worry about one of your people dyin' But now it's elevated, 'cause once you put someone's kids in it The shit gets escalated—it ain't just words no more, is it? It's a different ballgame, you call names and you ain't just rappin' We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happenin' Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him And asked him not to start it, he wasn't gonna go after him Until Ja started yappin' in magazines how he stabbed him Fuck it, 50, smash him! Mash on him, let him have it Meanwhile my attention's pulled in another direction Some receptionist at The Source who answers phones at his desk Has an erection for me and thinks that I'll be his resurrection Tries to blow the dust off his mic and make a new record But now he's fucked the game up 'cause one of the ways I came up Was through that publication, the same one that made me famous Now the owner of it has got a grudge against me for nothin'? Well, fuck it, that motherfucker could get it too, fuck him then! But I'm so busy bein' pissed off, I don't stop to think That we've just inherited 50's beef with Murder Inc. And he's inherited mine, which is fine, ain't like either of us mind We still have soldiers that's on the front line Who's willin' to die for us as soon as we give the orders Never to extort us, strictly to show they support us And maybe shout 'em out in a rap or up in a chorus To show 'em we love 'em back and let 'em know how important It is to have Runyon Avenue soldiers up in our corners Their loyalty to us is worth more than any award is But I ain't tryna have none of my people hurt or murdered It ain't worth it, I can't think of a perfecter way to word it Than to just say that I love y'all too much to see the verdict I'll walk away from it all 'fore I let it go any further But don't get it twisted, it's not a plea that I'm coppin' I'm just willin' to be the bigger man, if y'all can quit poppin' Off at the jaws, well, then I can, 'cause frankly I'm sick of talkin' I'm not gonna let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience 'Cause— [Chorus] Step by step, heart to heart Left, right, left, we all fall down Like toy soldiers Bit by bit, torn apart We never win, but the battle wages on For toy soldiers